Afghan Legislators Approve New Election Law

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan legislators say they have approved a law to govern next year's presidential and provincial council elections, a key step in holding the polls.

The law needs to be signed by President Hamid Karzai. Another law regulating the responsibilities of the electoral management bodies was passed over the weekend. Karzai also needs to sign off on that one.

Nelofer Ibrahimi, a parliamentarian from Badakhshan province, and Shah Gul Rezayee, a deputy from Ghazni, said by a joint commission of 14 deputies from the upper and lower houses of parliament passed the law on Monday.

Completion of the two laws would clear the way for the elections on April 5 next year.

Karzai, whose second five-year term ends next year, is not allowed to seek a third.